Lecture 5 Theological Developments 312 - 604

1. Lecture 5Theological Developments312 - 604 Dr. Ann T. Orlando 15 February 2011 CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

2. Introduction • Review of History 312-604 • Church and Social Issues • Women • Sex • Two Critical Contributions By Augustine to Western Theology: • Evil • Pelagian Controversy • Spirituality • Monasticism • Pilgrimages • Spiritual Progress • Review Readings CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

3. Historical Review 312-604 • Constantine the Great • Church Councils • Barbarian Invasions, especially in West • Western Catholicism starts to look toward Europe, away from Eastern Mediterranean, as ‘center of gravity’ CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

4. Status of Women in Patristic Period (100-600s) • First rule: evaluate social issues within their historical context; second rule same as first • Unlike most ‘philosophical schools’ Christianity welcomed women • Women were honored with highest ‘rank’ among Christians: martyrdom; Perpetua and Felicity; Agnes, Lucy, Celia, Anastasia, etc. • Many (most) Patristic authors had intellectual and/or mystical relationships with women • John Chrysostom and Olympias • Jerome and Paula • Basil, Gregory and Macrina • Pope Leo I and Pulcharia • Augustine and Monica • Benedict and Scholastica • Much literature from/about women in this period is in fact extant (especially letters) CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

5. Patristic Understanding of Sex • Remember first and second rules of social analysis • Control of passions was important aspect of all philosophical schools of time, including Epicureanism (ethics based on pleasure) • Jovinian vs. Jerome • Both were priests in Rome • Jovinian held that married state was equally holy as being a consecrated virgin • Jerome adamantly supported virginity over marriage; only valid purpose of sex was to create more virgins • Jerome forced to leave Rome; goes to Jerusalem and Bethlehem; works on an authoritative translation of Bible into Latin (Vulgate) CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

6. Augustine and Marriage • Honored his mother and father in their marriage (Confessions Book IX) • Augustine wrote On the Goods of Marriage as the middle way between Jerome and Jovinian • While viewing virginity as the better way of life, Augustine also recognized several types of ‘goods’ in marriage in addition to procreation • Jerome’s views are often ascribed to Augustine; see Markus p. 69-70 CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

7. Orthodox Understanding of Evil • Recall that in Confessions Book III, Augustine abandons Catholic Christianity for two reasons • Old Testament does not make sense • Theodicy (how can there be evil if there is a good, almighty creator God) • Augustine finds resolution to this in Book VII, based on Plotinus. • Evil is the absence of a good that should be there. • Biblical-based response developed by Patristic authors is evil and suffering teach us virtue • But does is this completely satisfying? Some modern theologians (John Hick, process theology) think not; they look to Irenaeus and his view of Adam and Eve as ‘children’ in the garden of Eden. Humanity is continuing to evolve. • But then how to explain importance of recapitulation in Irenaeus CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

8. Pelagian Controversy: Introduction • The Key Players • Monk Pelagius, from England, d. 419 in Constantinople • His disciple, Julian of Eclanum, bishop in Sicily, d. 454 • Opposing both, Augustine of Hippo, d. 430 • Key Elements • Free will • Sin • Grace • Justification • Predestination • Key Biblical passages in disputed interpretation: Genesis and Romans (in fact exactly what we read for First Sunday of Lent) • Both Pelagius and Augustine write a Commentary on Romans • Footnote: a primary source for Pelagius’ theology is his letter to Demetrius, a Roman nun CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

9. Pelagian Controversy: Issues • Free will • Pelagian: humanity has total free will; as long as we know what is right we can do what is right; • Augustine: yes we have free will, but our ability to know and act is darkened by sin • Augustine also often means by free will a will freed from the inclination to sin • Sin • Pelagians: Adam’s sin was his personal sin; sin is always a willful personal act committed against God by someone who should know better and be able to do better; within our own power to avoid sin • Adam’s sin was a ‘disease’ that entered into humanity; only God’s grace can cure this disease; only with God’s grace can we really know and do the right CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

10. Pelagian Controversy: Issues (cont.) • Grace • Pelagians: external enlightenment from God (e.g., Gospels) so we can know the good; also reward for doing good • Augustine: grace is needed to do good • Justification • Pelagians: justified through our good works; it’s all up to us • Augustine: only God’s freely given grace can justify • Predestination • Pelagians: God does not predestine us; infants not Baptized go to heaven • Augustine: Because of original sin, all justly condemned (massa damnata); by his graciousness, God elects a few for salvation; Baptism a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for salvation CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

11. Legacy of Pelagian Controversy • Catholic (Western) Church at Council of Orange, 529 • accepts Augustine’s views on free will, grace, sin, justification; • accepts necessity of Baptism • accepts predestination of elect, but refuses to say anyone is predestined to hell (i.e., rejects double predestination) • These issues are doctrinal flash point of Reformation; all sides will claim Augustine for their own • See CCC CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

12. Spirituality after Constantine • Problems: • How to lead a truly Christian life when martyrdom is no longer an option; how to become a saint? • It had become too easy, too socially and politically important to be a Christian • Solutions: The Way (path) of Jesus • Monasticism • Pilgrimage • Stages of Spiritual Development • Types of Spirituality CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

13. Development of Monasticism: Early 4th C • Desert Monks (from Greek for solitary), primarily in Egypt: anchorites withdrawn from society • Most famous: Anthony (251-356), • Athanasius (Bishop of Alexandria, opposed Arius) wrote a very influential life of Anthony, example: Augustine Confessions Book VIII • Communal monasticism: cenobitic • Many attracted to this way of life, come together in groups • Rule of St. Pachomius (286 – 346) • Pachomius’ sister, Mary, establishes an Egyptian monastery for women CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

14. What’s a Rule • Prescribes the way of life for the community • Includes what prayers are said when • Defines balance between work, study, prayer • Community organization (abbot, monks, novices) and how leaders are selected • Process for acceptance into community • How new communities are created • Relation between community and diocese CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

15. Later 4th C Monastic Developments • Three Cappadocians: Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzan • Famous for Trinitarian theology • Basil’s Rule for Monks • But the smartest, most spiritual one, The Teacher, was Macrina (sister of Basil and Gregory of Nyssa) established a retreat house in her home • Augustine organizes his clergy in Hippo as in a monastery, writes a Rule (maybe) CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

16. Early 5th C Monastic Developments • John Cassian (360-435), • Born in France, spent time as an anchorite in Egypt • Brought Pachomius’ Rule back with him • Made it available in West in his Divine Institutes and Conferences • Wrote against Augustine in the Pelagian controversy • Revered as a saint in the East, but not the West CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

17. 6th C Monastic Developments • St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) • Hugely influenced by Pachomius via John Cassian • Established an order of Monks, now known as Benedictines, governed by his Rule • Founded a monastery outside of Rome, Monte Casino • Sister, Scholastic, founded an order of nuns to follow the Rule • Most popular religious order in West until 13th C • Pope St. Gregory Great (546-604) • Benedictine • Wrote a life of Benedict • Reformed Roman clergy around monastic model • Earliest extant life of Gregory written by a nun in Whitby, 8th C CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

18. Pilgrimages • A way to become closer to Jesus and the martyrs • Started with remembrance of acts of martyrs and celebrations at their burial places • After Constantine, more far reaching • People who could not give up their life to enter monastery • Needed some special way to demonstrate their faith • Also way to atone for sins • Starts with Helena, Constantine’s mother, in Jerusalem • Remember, 4th C pilgrimage nothing like 21st C pilgrimage • Dangerous: very high probability of death • Expensive • Very arduous and tedious (lasting year or more) • Most famous early record of pilgrimages by Egeria, 4th C woman • Born in Spain or France • Spent 3 years on pilgrimage • Her journal gives earliest description of liturgies in Jerusalem during Holy Week CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

19. The Idea of Spiritual Progress • Both monasticism and pilgrimages encourage following the Way of Jesus • Gregory of Nyssa opposes pilgrimages because so often undertaken for wrong reasons • God is everywhere, simply being in a holy place does not make you holy • A pilgrimage should not be a requirement for a holy life • He did, himself, go to Jerusalem • Augustine emphasizes that the real pilgrimage is our life journey to our heavenly home • Journeys to earthly Jerusalem are the metaphor for our real pilgrimage: our life • Development of approaches to spirituality • Biblically based, usually with a highly allegorical interpretation • Intended to be accessible to everyone, found in homilies • Well defined steps in approach to spiritual life • Note Plotinus developed spiritual steps for unity with “The One” CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

20. Major Elements to Spiritual Progress • Three Stages • Purgation • Illumination • Unity • In different authors, there may be several steps within each stage • Gregory of Nyssa (and many others, including Origen, rabbis, Bernard of Clairvaux) Commentary on Song of Songs • Proverbs first stage (purgation) • Ecclesiastes second stage (illumination) • Song of Songs third stage (unity) CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

21. Types of Spirituality • Both types include purgation, illumination and unity stages • Spiritual masters suggested steps for both ways • Apophatic (via negativa) • Move toward God away from creation; God as transcendent • Discourages use of senses; Emotions suppressed • Heart is only satisfied with God • Bridal mysticism • Example: Monasticism • Kataphatic (via positiva) • Approaching God through creation; incarnation and passion of Jesus • Encourages use of sense; Emotions are excited • God has a history in the world • Service mysticism • Example: Pilgrimages CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

22. Readings • Markus, Ch 2 in McManners (62-91) • Read all carefully • Very good discussion of cult of martyrs 73-84 • Gregory of Nyssa Commentary on Song of Songs • Written for a group of nuns, really a series of sermons • Note relation of literal and spiritual meanings • Read carefully in Prolog: J3-J5; J13; in First Homily: J14-20; J26-42 • Look for mention of Song of Songs in Deus Caritas Est CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO

23. Readings (cont.) • Augustine Confessions Books VII, VIII, IX; It’s Augustine, what can I say, except to read it all carefully. However, to emphasize the idea of spiritual progress, read the following • Book VII: iv-v, vii-xxi • Book VIII: all • Book IX: vi, x-xiii • Benedict Rule, Prolog – Ch. 7 • At least skim Prolog – Ch 4 • Read steps of humility in Ch 5 -7 carefully • CCC: 404-406, 1037, 1257-1261, 385, 2683-2691, 925-929 CH 500 Lecture 5 ATO